Prairie du Chien Class of 2014 graduates McKenzie Banasik (right) and Claire Stoeffler encourage National Honor Society members and fellow graduates to use scholarship, character, leadership, and academics all throughout life. The class’ graduation was held Sunday, May 25.

Experience some authentic Louisiana food, beer and music at the eighth annual Cajun Fest, this Friday, June 6, from 5 to 10 p.m. and Saturday, June 7, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets and plan for an enjoyable weekend on St. Feriole Island in Prairie du Chien. Admission to the festival is free.

Whether you’re hungry for some flavorful southern cooking, anxious to get groovin’ to the tunes of the bayou, or looking for a fun night out with friends, Cajun Fest is for you.

This year’s theme is “Voo-doo unto others before they voo-doo unto you!”

Take advantage of the opportunity to be a part of a traditional New Orleans-style “second-line” parade and grab your share of beads to take home. The parade is scheduled for 8 p.m. on Friday night. The revelation of the Cajun Fest King and Queen will also take place on the island prior to the parade.

Two of the most sensational aspects of Cajun Fest include the food and the music.

The Morets—Jim, Jean Josh and Jenny (not pictured)—will proudly host the Crawford County Dairy Breakfast on Saturday, June 7, from 6 to 10 a.m., at their farm just three miles south of Prairie du Chien. The farm, distinguished from the countryside by its blue and white buildings, is located at 61102 Old State Hwy. 18, Bridgeport. Buses will run from Piggly Wiggly to the farm every 15 minutes, beginning at 5:45 a.m., to 9:30 a.m. This is the fourth time the family is hosting this highly-anticipated yearly event. (Photo by Correne Martin)

By Correne Martin

Whether you’re a city family with kids who enjoy animals or a rural farm family interested in a fellow operation, a delicious dairy breakfast will serve as the common denominator on Saturday, June 7, at the Crawford County Dairy Breakfast. This year’s event is hosted by Jim, Jean, Jenny and Josh Moret, aka Promise Land Farms, at 61102 Old State Hwy. 18, Bridgeport. Breakfast will be dished up from 6 to 10 a.m., and all ages are welcome to tour the farm and check out the cattle, the automated calf feeder, the dairy barn and more.

“They’re welcome to walk around. The barns will be open for people to view the cattle,” Jim said. “Hopefully, there will be a saleswoman here to explain how our automated calf feeder works too.”
The all-you-can-eat breakfast will include pancakes, sausage, cheese, applesauce, Culver’s Custard, dairy shakes, coffee and milk. Door prizes will be drawn.

Mike, Jean and Mark Oppermann are proud to be offering a taste of home at the historic Bagley Hotel. Jean purchased the business in mid-March and opened to customers the second week in May.

Response to the Oppermanns running the Bagley Hotel has been pleasant so far. They boast a steady customer base already, in the restaurant, bar and hotel, as well as over 700 Facebook fans for the small-town establishment.

By Correne Martin

In the small river community of Bagley, there are four establishments at which hometown residents as well as travelers can find something good to eat and drink. The historic Bagley Hotel has serviced hungry customers the longest, built in 1913, by Otto Oswald on the corner of Bagley Avenue and Walnut Street. Oswald erected the pool hall next door in 1912, and a year later, the Bagley Hotel—a restaurant including seven hotel rooms in the upstairs.

The Bagley Hotel has had just eight owners in its 101-year history. Most recently, rural Bagley resident Jean Oppermann added her name to that list, purchasing the business on March 14.

This is just one view of the serene and scenic beauty that nature trail users will be able to enjoy.

By Ted Pennekamp

A proposed hiking, biking, and cross country skiing trail from Wauzeka to Woodman to Boscobel continues to make progress. Proponents of the trail met recently with the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway Board and received the board’s support for a trail near the railroad connecting the three municipalities.

Members of the audience enjoy viewing the world premiere of “American River Renegades” during the premiere party at Old Man River in McGregor Monday night.

By Ted Pennekamp

The highly-anticipated new reality show featuring local commercial fisherman and entrepreneur Mississippi Mike Valley and his sidekick Brooks Niedziejko was quite a hit with the near capacity crowd at the world premiere of “American River Renegades” at Old Man River in McGregor Monday night.

Members of the Seeley-Onstine American Legion Post 458 rode solemnly through the Memorial Day parade in Wauzeka Monday morning in deference to their fallen military comrades. The crowd along the sidelines paid their respects with applause. (Photos by Correne Martin)

In the very seasonal temperatures Monday, there was a good turnout for Wauzeka’s Memorial Day celebration, which included a Sunday night luminary service and then a parade, program and chicken dinner Monday, as well as a ball tournament all weekend. Those pictured on this parade poster, “Remember Not To Forget,” are Jim Atkinson, Dale Harvat, Raymond Young, Maynard Parks, Chris Ward, Stephanie Onstine, Cory Peloch, Fritz Curtis, Carl Harvat and Rick Johnson. (Photo by Correne Martin)

The Wauzeka-Steuben first and second graders soared while singing “If I Could Be an Eagle” and “My Flag” during Monday’s Memorial Day program dedicated to the honor of all Americans who have paid the ultimate price while in the military. The annual program, in the Wauzeka-Steuben School gymnasium, featured musical selections and spoken essays by a range of the school’s students. The several hundred in attendance left with warmed hearts and fueled souls to go out into their communities and show increased gratefulness to our veterans, American flags, cemeteries, laws, rights (to speech and suffrage) and freedoms. May we all be reminded, as student Megan Walters read in her “How I show my pride being an American” essay: “Freedom is important enough to live for and precious enough to die for.” (Photo by Correne Martin)

World War II Army veteran Fay McCullick, 94, of Wauzeka, and his son Tom were welcomed home from the Badger Honor Flight May 17 by an overwhelming crew of 5,000 family, friends and supporters, who were lined up eight deep in the Madison airport to greet the veterans. Fay is pictured shaking hands with his granddaughter’s husband. (Submitted photo)

Upon disembarking from their Badger Honor Flight at the Madison airport, Fay and his son Tom walk through a rousing crowd of about 5,000 who welcomed them home.

Each veteran on the Badger Honor Flight received a hat, coat and T-shirt as well as their picture in front of the stars and stripes. A group picture was also taken in Washington, D.C.

By Correne Martin

At 94 years young, World War II veteran Fay McCullick, of Wauzeka, took the trip of a lifetime on Saturday, May 17. For the first time, he saw with his own eyes the World War II Memorial erected in honor of his service and the service of his fellow comrades. He was one of 85 WWII veterans (plus guardians and medical/support staff) to experience the most recent one-day Badger Honor Flight, from Madison to Washington, D.C.

“It was a long day. I’m still recovering,” Fay said with a smile, just three days after his memorable tour of honor. “I very much appreciated it.”

Prairie du Chien police were sent to this house at 409 E. Webster St., Monday evening for a possible meth lab. Following execution of a search warrant Tuesday, Kyle L. Vanderbilt, 27, of Prairie du Chien was arrested on a probation violation and is charged with manufacturing meth along with other drug crimes pending. (Photo by Correne Martin)

A Prairie du Chien man is in Crawford County jail today on charges of manufacturing meth along with other drug crimes pending, according to Prairie du Chien Police Chief Chad Abram.

On Monday, May 26, at around 5:15 p.m., the police department was sent to 409 E. Webster St. for a possible methamphetamine lab. Upon arrival, officers were shown items used in the manufacturing of methamphetamine. The suspect had fled on foot prior to officers arriving on scene. The officers secured the residence from the outside and administration was notified of the incident. Additional officers were called to assist with the investigation and search of the suspect.

Members of the department who are trained and certified in meth investigations arrived on scene. After an initial assessment of the items discovered by the reporting party, investigators decided to apply for a search warrant for the residence.

The remains of the spread footing of the Glenn Bridge, a 20-foot structure that spanned over a drainage ditch built in 1932, was found by construction workers, underground, within the Marquette Road project recently. In 1967, all but the footings of the abutments were removed with the last Marquette Road reconstruction project. Find more Marquette Road construction photos on the Courier Press Newspaper Facebook page. (Submitted photo)

Two more storm sewer structures were delivered last week for the Marquette Road project. These structures are 12 feet wide by 3 feet high with 12-inch thick walls. Nearly 1,000 feet of this precast box culvert will be placed under Marquette Road to manage storm water. These structures are 4 feet deep and weigh nearly 22,000 pounds each. Two workers are shown lowering the first section of the same box culvert into place. (Submitted photo)

Early last week, construction crews working on the Marquette Road project in Prairie du Chien discovered something of historic proportions underneath the roadway. They found the spread footing of the Glenn Bridge, a 20-foot structure that spanned over a drainage ditch built in 1932.

According to WisDOT Project Leader Jay Adams, in 1967, all but the footing of the bridge abutments were removed with the last Marquette Road reconstruction project.

Adams said the designers were aware that this structure was present and at least partially removed in 1967. Whether it was completely removed or whether it was going to be in conflict with the current storm sewer construction was unknown.

“It was not in the plan to be removed and was one of those surprises you get from time to time in construction when it was found,” Adams stated.